Telephone attachment



June 1,1926 1,587,460

J. E. VVYCKOFF TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT Filed August 17, 19,25

WITNESSES M @Mw 1N VENTOR JHMES E. WYC'KUF BY M I ATTORNEYS PatentedJune 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

-TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT.

Application filed August 17, 1925.

This invention relates to attachment for telephones, particularlypay-station telephones.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicientattachment which will prevent the signal within the telephone bos: frombeing operated whenever a light-weight coin or check is inserted in thechute or coin-slot.

A further object provides a simple and efficient attachment which can bedisposed within the coin-box without requiring any substantialalteration of the construction of the box and the parts originallydisposed therein.

The invention is illustrated in the drawof which Figure 1 is a rearelevation with a portion cut away showing the interior construction of acoin-box of a pay telephone. Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22of Figure 1.

The form of the invention shown in the drawings is a preferred form,although it is understood that modifications in the construction andarrangement of the parts and in the character of the materials used maybe adopted without departing from the spirit of the .invention as setforth in the appended claim.

Vhenever a person uses a pay telephone and inserts a lightweight checkin the coinchute, this check passes down the chute and at a certainportion of its travel normally comes into contact with a signal deviceto sound the same after which it proceeds on its way. Often timesinstead of using legitimate coins of the proper weight, the dishonestpeople will use lightweight coins or substitutes therefor. In some casesthe metal rim Dennison tag checks are sometimes used instead of a silverquarter in the pay telephone.

I aim to overcome the difficulty by disposing within the box adjacentthe gong or signal device, a flexible member which is disposed in thepath of the coin or check and has sufficient resistance to prevent aSerial No. 50,796.

fraudulent or lightweight check from operating the gong or signal, butnot having suflicient resistance to prevent a coin of propor weight fromoperating the signal.

This flexible ball-1e member as I may call it may be in the form of aspring strip or it may assume many other shapes the broad idea beingthat it has suflicient resistance for the purposes above set forth andthat it is disposed adjacent the gong and in the path of the cheek.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings Iillustrate a pay telephone box 10, with the coin or check chute shown indotted lines. This chute is formed within a frame 12. Fastened at anysuitable point within the box is a flexible baffle device 13 preferablyshown in the form of a coil spring, which as shown in Figure 2 can befastened to the casing 14 of the box by the screw 15 and have its end 16disposed in the path of the check as it travels down the chute 11. Thisbatlle member is disposed adjacent a gong 17 and between the gong andthe chute, so that as the coin travels down the chute it will come incontact with the bafiie member before it can possibly contact with thegong or signal.

The flexibility of the bafile member 13 is such that any check which isunder normal weight will be successfully resisted by the baffle memberto prevent contact with the gong; whereas the flexibility of the bafflemember is such that a normal or overweighted coin or check will operatethe gong.

Vshat I claim is An attachment for pay telephones having a signal deviceand a check chute which comprises spring blade mounted within the casingof the telephone in front of the signal device and in such relation tothe check chute as to cause the check to come in contact with it beforecontact with the signal device, the resiliency 0f the spring beingpredetermined to prevent the actuation of the signal device bylightweight checks.

JAMES EDWARD WYCKOFF.

